~ A blog about the bible and life

Monthly Archives: April 2009

The spring season is a season filled with change in many ways; flowers and sprouts start appearing in nature, households undergo the famous “spring cleaning” and daylight savings time begins.

What is change?

According to wordnet.princeton.edu change is: Any variation or alteration; a passing from one state or form to another; as, a change of countenance; a change of habits or principles. A succession or substitution of one thing in the place of another; a difference; novelty; variety; as, a change of seasons. A passing from one phase to another; as, a change of the moon. Alteration in the order of a series; permutation.

Change and Life

Different accounts, scientific and faith-based, of how life in this planet originated and perpetuates itself identify change as a key element for the existence of life.

The Bible narrates in the book of Genesis how God formed the Earth and creation by gradually changing the “formless and empty darkness” which was there in the beginning into a place where light, sky, water, vegetation, animals and humans exist. (Genesis 1). God changed the conditions of the void by creating living and inanimate matter; we see a change taking place.

Science also explains how in an embryo is created through the differentiation and specialization of different cells which come from the union of two gametes. One cell multiplies and changes into millions of different kinds of cells to create a living organism; a zygote becomes an embryo, which turns into a fetus and later a baby; we see a change taking place.

Regardless of the lens we choose to look from…we can agree that change is a part of life, change results from the temporary nature of our earthly existence, change happens to everyone and everything in this planet…change is a precondition for life.

Two Kinds of Change

In our lives, we experience changes without even realizing it; seasons change, conditions change, we grow older, we go from one stage of our life to the next, we sometimes experience loss or unexpected out-of-the-ordinary situations. In order to study the phenomenon of change, scholars have categorized change in two kinds; cyclical change and structural change.

Cyclical change, as described by its name, is a change that occurs on a regular interval…for example seasons, fashion trends or business cycles…this kind of change is not permanent and can be reversed.

Structural change is a change that is unusual such as a revolution in a country, loss or death…this kind of change is permanent and cannot be reversed.

One of the biggest money-makers in the t.v. industry are the shows that capitalize on documenting change, such as makeover and improvement shows…as an avid t.v. viewer, please allow me to name my top 5 shows dealing with change:

5. Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style; it is a Bravo produced show where fashion-impaired ladies get the tools to reinvent their wardrobes from Tim Gunn.4. Extreme Makeover; it is a total revamp of a person’s appearance which includes months of training, plastic surgery, wardrobe reinvention plus hair and makeup.3. Extreme Makeover Home Edition; this show deals with the renovation of the house of a deserving family…it is a joint effort of the t.v. show and the friends of the family.2. What not to Wear; people are recommended by their family and friends for this show…another show which deals with the fashion-impaired.1. Pimp my Ride; a show dealing with car-makeovers.So Please MTV, Pimp my Ride!

I especially like the format of “Pimp my Ride”…the show begins by introducing us to a person who has a car in dire need of repair…usually the car is falling apart and barely driving. After detailing all the malfunctions and glitches of the car the owner issues a plea to MTV asking for help, the first scene of the show always ends with the phrase “so please MTV pimp my ride”…the next scene shows the host Xzibit coming to the person’s house first to inspect the car and to announce that a change is coming; MTV has heard the plea and is going to Pimp the Ride.

It is so funny and endearing to see the people’s reaction when they open the door and see Xzibit standing in front of them…they are ecstatic; some will scream others will jump and scream, and others will scream, jump and embrace Xzibit like he was a long-lost brother. These people understand the implications of Xzibit’s presence at their front door; he’s coming to bring about a much needed change…He’s coming to get the defective automobile, and he’s going to take that car to get work done in one of the best garages in California…the participants in the show are aware that the next time they see their car, it is no longer going to be defective; not only will it be repaired but also immensely improved a.k.a. pimped. This change brings joy, anticipation and excitement to people’s lives…and I like watching all these emotions unfold.

Just like the introduction of the show follows the same format over and over, the conclusion of the show also follows one recurring format; once the car is in a new and improved, the owner is invited to the garage to witness the “great reveal”. The mechanics explain step-by-step the repairs, improvements and changes made to the car and the owner of the car responds in amazement and gratitude. The host of the show, Xzibit presents the person with his car keys and before letting him/her drive away he tells them; “You’ve officially been pimp’d”.

Jesus the Great Mechanic

Recently we celebrated Easter…a time when we remember Jesus’ life here on earth, his death on the cross, and his resurrection after three days. However, many times we overlook the fact that Easter is also celebration of change; through his sacrifice, Jesus has dramatically changed the course of history and the potential outcome of our lives. In the show “Pimp my Ride” the cars are changed at two levels; first the mechanics fix those things which are malfunctioning or have deteriorated over time, and second the mechanics improve the car by adding equipment that the car did not have even when it was new from the dealer; such as extra-powerful stereo or GPS navigation system, which enhance the car’s condition beyond the owner’s expectations.

Similarly, Jesus brings change to our life at two levels; first he repairs the damage caused by sin and the works of the enemy our life, the Bible says in Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”, and John 10:10 says “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Second, Jesus improves our life through giving us the opportunity to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit; our God-given GPS navigation system, and by opening the way to the throne of the father. Paul says in Ephesians 3:13-21 that we can know the depths of God’s love and be strengthened in our inner man through his Spirit and that God is “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine”…in other words; the changes that Jesus brings to our lives can exceed our expectations.

Jesus at the Door

As I mentioned before, one of the most memorable instances in the show “Pimp my Ride” are the scenes where Xzibit knocks at people’s door in order to bring about change…similarly in Revelation the Bible contains a passage where Jesus is pictured standing at the door and knocking…

Revelations 3: 14-21“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the rulerof God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. Iwish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth…So beearnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyonehears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and hewith me.”

When I read this passage, I cannot help but contrast the enthusiasm of the people portrayed in the t.v. show when Xzibit is at their door and the indifference of the church of Laodicea when Jesus was at their door… the bible describes the church’s reaction to Jesus as “lukewarm”, in other words apathetic, unexcited or even neutral…and this has not changed very much with time. Christians are still very passive, indifferent or neutral when it comes to Jesus’ presence in their lives…I sometimes get more excited watching a car get fixed than reading God’s promises in the bible…and I know I am not the only one.

How can people (including myself) be so excited for a temporary change such as their car getting fixed and ignore the person who wants to bring about changes that benefit their entire lives not only on this earth but also for eternity? Unlike the t.v. shows such as “Pimp my Ride”, the changes that Jesus brings to people’s lives are permanent, structural, eternal. A car lasts 20 years…eternity lasts forever.

How can we respond adequately to the changes that Jesus wants to bring to our life? John the Baptist once instructed people on how to respond to Jesus’ gift of salvation…he said in Luke 3:8 “produce fruit in keeping with repentance”. Repentance is a word which implies change…it is actually a complete 180 degrees change in direction; it is a U-turn. Jesus himself tells the church in Laodicea to repent…to be earnest. Repentance includes a heartfelt desire to embrace the changes that Jesus wants to bring about in our lives…it is the equivalent of making a U-turn when we are driving in the wrong direction, or giving Xzibit the keys to a car which desperately needs repair.

Concluding Thoughts: The 10-Cow Makeover

Readers Digest once published a powerful story which narrates the story of a widower who lived with his two daughters in a small village in Asia a long time ago. One of the daughters was beautiful; her charisma and grace was known in the entire village and the neighboring areas… The other daughter, although noble-hearted, lacked allure and charm. The two young women were ready to be given in marriage, and as it was the custom in those days, the father was expecting suitors to show up and offer cattle in exchange for a wife.

One morning, word came to the old man that a wealthy dignitary was coming to the village to find his future wife. The wealthy man had been on a long quest to find a suitable woman to share his life, and had travelled near and far in his mission. The old man thought to himself; “surely when he sees my daughter, this man rich in possessions but poor in love will forget all his previous distress and forfeit his travels; he will settle with her and ask for her hand in marriage”, he rushed to his house and prepared for the event.

As the dignitary entered the old man’s house; his face light up, his eyes grew teary and his mouth uttered the following words; “Good man, at the sight of your daughter, I who am rich in possessions but poor in love, have forgotten all my distress and travels, I am in love with your daughter and wish to settle with her and ask for her hand in marriage, allow me to offer 10 cows as exchange” The old man who was prepared answered without hesitations, “Dear sir as a father, I am prepared to give you her hand in marriage.” The price of 10 cows was the highest price anyone had ever paid for a wife, but the old man was not surprised, since his daughter’s beauty was legendary.

The old man was smiling, satisfied that all his predictions had come to pass, when something happened that took not only him, but the entire village by surprise; the dignitary approached the two daughters who were standing side by side, and turned to the other daughter, the one who was noble-hearted and asked her “would you be my wife?” Without any hesitation, the young woman took his hand, looked at his family for one last time, and left with the distinguished man to become his wife.

Time went by, and word came to the old man, that his daughter and son-in-law were coming to the village in the customary visit that daughters pay their fathers. In villages a family-visit, concerns the entire town, and so all the people had gathered outside the old man’s house, to see the daughter arrive with the fool who paid 10 cows for a noble-hearted but unattractive wife. The dignitary appeared first, illustrious and poised as usual and stretched his hand to his wife to lovingly usher her into her father’s house.

The sight that caught people’s eyes was not that of an unattractive, noble-hearted woman, but that of an exquisite creature, who stood dignified, lovely and self-assured by her husband’s side. Astonishment and admiration filled people’s minds. The old man in his amazement couldn’t contain himself; he asked his daughter the reason for her change. The woman looked at his father and at everybody else, set her gaze on her husband and answered; “I realized the price he paid.”

I like this story because it is a makeover story, and it also illustrates what repentance should look like. Jesus paid a price for each and every one of us, so that our lives could be changed…however we need to respond and change our ways…and we will be restored, made-over, or as put in my favorite lingo; we will officially be “pimp’d”.

“”If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me” (Jeremiah 15:19)“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matthew 3:2)“Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent.”

As a child, I spent every Easter on the beach. The “Semana Santa” (Easter Week) celebrations in El Salvador, my native country, do not include colored eggs, bunnies or baskets…however for most people it does involve a sojourn in the local beaches, time spent with family and friends and the participation in some form of religious tradition (church service, mass, or processions).In my case, every year my entire family (by family I mean the Latin American version of extended family which includes aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives) would gather at my grandfather’s beach house and spend the week together. The time spent with family and friends surrounded by palm trees, water, and sun is one of my favorite childhood memories. My cousins (who for the most part were older and seemed so cool at that time) usually invited friends over to spend the week with us, so the house was always filled with laughter, card games, food, music and some form of youthful excitement. Every day the entire family would eat meals together, swim together and enjoy the distance from the daily routines by following a vacation routine.Our days would begin by putting on our swimsuits, going for breakfast and later going for a swim…after working up our appetite by playing, swimming and sunbathing we would go back for the second meal of the day. Generally, after lunch the grownups would lie in the hammocks and take a siesta (nap), while the rest of the pack would watch t.v., play card games or do whatever other activity would help us endure the wait for the next swim of the day… Swimming was the highlight of the whole week…my cousins, siblings and I would look for starfish in the water, ride waves or simply enjoy the sun. After the afternoon swim, we would return to the house, eat dinner, and play some more card games, watch t.v. or gather round a bonfire.

8 year old me at the beach

I loved those times…the only instance when I remember being unhappy during Easter vacation was on Easter Fridays… every year, we were not allowed to go swimming to the ocean or the pool until three p.m. of that day. I remember languishing by pool, wishing the time would go by faster and hoping for the ninth hour. When the clock showed that it was 3 o’ clock in the afternoon, I would jump into the water like I was up in flames, and swim like I had never been to a pool before. This happened year after year, Easter after Easter. The somewhat unorthodox practice of “pool and ocean abstinence” was the way in which the adults in our family wanted to teach us children about Christ’s sacrifice, and help us understand in a practical way the meaning of that day. I remember that as a child, this helped me understand that Easter Friday was not a “happy” day…and that Jesus had been in a state of suffering until 3 p.m. which came to an end when he said “it is done” and yielded his spirit.Even though time has passed, and now my Easters include bunnies, baskets, colored eggs and church service, I still retain my childhood practice of remembering Christ sufferings until 3 p.m. on Easter Friday. Ironically, now that I am a grownup, the roles have been reversed…the highlight of my week is the practical discipline which helps me meditate on Christ’s sacrifice…had somebody told me that when I was a child, I would have thought they were crazy. The Bible narrates how something similar happened to a church…Paul told the church in Corinth that as they grew in Christ, some things which originally seemed foolish to them would become the very things that they would come to value and practice.The Wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:18-30)“The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. As the Scriptures say,“I will destroy the wisdom of the wiseand discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.””Current AffairsIt seems like things have not changed much in people’s heart since Paul wrote his letter to the Corinthians. Several people have reservations regarding the Christian faith; they get offended or embarrassed by it. In modern societies, scientific theory and thought dominate the dialogue of what is considered plausible and acceptable as truth.The movie “The Passion of the Christ” shows a very powerful scene where Pontius Pilate, after having met with Christ, asks his wife the following questions: “Truth, what is truth? Do you hear it? Do you recognize it when it is spoken?” Pilate had just encountered Truth, and yet he had a hard time recognizing this fact due to his preconceived notions and beliefs. Christ said of himself: “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). The answer to Pilate’s questions had literally stared him in the face, but he did not see it. This happened with many of Pilate’s contemporaries as well; the Jewish folk, the high priests and the Romans could not reconcile Christ with their preconceived notions and beliefs regarding the Messiah who was to come.God sent Christ to die on the Cross, to pay for our sins and ransom our souls…during Easter, we commemorate this sacrifice…but do we believe it? Do we receive it? Or do we only think about it for a while, put it aside, and choose to rely on our preconceived notions and ideas about life and human existence?The message of the cross is so powerful; it is the purest expression of divine love and divine justice merged in one act of sacrifice, yet it is hard to comprehend. Like Tim Hughes wrote “I’ll never know how much it cost, to see my sin upon that cross”.There are so many aspects of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross that are beyond human understanding; that are competing with, or even contradicting preconceived notions that we have…but the truth is staring us in the face. In this Easter season, may God open our eyes and let us see beyond our preconceived notions and ideas, and recognize the truth in the form of Jesus Christ the savior. And may we keep in mind that practices and ideas that once seemed foolish can become the most valuable practices and ideas we’ll ever know.

This is a fun age quiz: Which are the first Olympics you remember watching? This should be an easy question to answer…at least for some people…and it will remind you how old (or young) you are.

An article appeared online last year titled “You never forget your first Olympics”, the author Bob Fitzgerald narrates his experience witnessing the Olympics of 1976; the most memorable event for him was the performance of a Japanese gymnast who in spite of having a broken leg, managed to compete and deliver a nearly perfect routine in the rings…he describes it in the following way: “In an almost inhuman display of strength and concentration, the gymnast performed what looked to me like a perfect exercise, even landing a perfect dismount. The image is burned into my brain. I was only five and this is one of my earliest memories.”(source http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/You-never-forget-your-first-Olympics?urn=oly,97405)

Barcelona 1992

I also have a vivid memory of the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. I remember sitting in the living room of my aunt Melly’s house and watching the inauguration ceremony on T.V. with my cousin Anna and the rest of the family. The fact that I was watching the ceremonies at my aunt’s house was very significant for me due to one specific and significant detail: my aunt lived in Munich, Germany…I had been staying with her family for almost a month and this was the first time that I had been away from my native El Salvador for such an extended period of time…

Call me sentimental, but being away from my country awakened in me a sense of patriotism and nostalgia which I had never experienced before in my life (twelve years of life to be exact). I remember watching the delegations from every country march around the Olympic stadium; first the A countries, Angola, Argentina, Australia Austria etc. Afterwards the B countries, then C’s and so on…I was eagerly awaiting for the E countries to come out and march, I was expecting to see the Salvadorian delegation among them…with much anticipation.

Finally, the E countries came out, first the Ecuador delegation, then the Egypt delegation…I expected El Salvador to come next, but to my surprise, it did not happen…I waited, and waited…then the F countries started marching…I was so confused; what had just happened? Where is El Salvador? To my surprise the Spaniards had decided to place the El Salvador delegation among the S countries…the S!!! I remember thinking “that is almost at the end of the alphabet!!!!” I was not happy about the unexpected change, to say the least.

I continued half-watching the rest of the countries march…the ones starting with F, H, G, and so on. I waited, and waited…and at last…the S countries started marching out in the stadium…again my spirits lifted and anticipation started to build up once more…then it happened… the El Salvador delegation came marching out…it was a handful of people smiling and carrying the Salvadorian flag and a banner that read EL SALVADOR…oh what a sight!

Even though the El Salvador delegation was hardly comparable in terms of size and presence to the delegations of other countries such as Switzerland, Sweden or the host-country Spain, in my eyes, it seemed like the greatest thing on that stadium. My heart was bursting with a mixture of pride, hope and expectation at the sight of those Salvadorian athletes which I will never forget, like Bob Fitzgerald would say; the image was burnt not only in my brain, but also in my heart.

Beijing 2008

I am sure my feelings regarding the 1992 Olympics were only magnified by my young age and the fact that I was far away from my country. However, last year as I watched the inauguration ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics I could see traces of those same feelings in people’s faces as they cheered and shouted for their respective delegations. The opening ceremony for the Beijing Olympics was packed with feelings of awe, anticipation and excitement, and it was the culmination of 84 months of preparation and much hard work and sacrifice…and controversy aside, it was a moment of national pride for China.

The Olympic Games normally start with a triumphal entry of an athlete carrying the Olympic torch into the stadium…giving a great start to a significant event…the bible narrates a similar story of how the most important week in the history of mankind started with the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

The Triumphal Entry (John 12: 12-19)The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,“Hosanna!”“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”“Blessed is the King of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written,“Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion;see, your king is coming,seated on a donkey’s colt.”At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.

Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

Beijing and Jerusalem

In 2001, China was awarded the rights for the Olympic games, and from that time onwards the entire city of Beijing became a “work in progress”. Beijing became a permanent construction site…slowly transforming into a cosmopolitan center worthy of hosting a world class event; this process included the completion of great landmarks such as the Birds Nest and the Olympic Village. Jerusalem at the time when Jesus walked on earth was no different from Beijing in 2008; scholars have described it as a “great metropolitan area home to the lavishly restored Jewish Temple, a world-renowned wonder” comparable to modern day London or New York City. (source http://www.time.com/time/2001/jerusalem/cover.html).

According to the official website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/official/ioc/n214520633.shtml) the inaugural ceremony for the games was viewed by nearly 4 BILLION people…that is roughly 2/3 of the world’s population (the world population is 6,771,182,070). Just like Beijing in 2008, the city of Jerusalem in 31 A.D. was in a period of Renaissance….and the Passover and the festival of the tabernacles drew thousands of people to Jerusalem…specifically to the Temple; which became the epicenter of attention and activity for all the Jewish folk for a week.

It is in this significant point in time that Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, and as he approaches, stories of those miracles and signs which he performed precede him; building anticipation among the Jewish folk. The particular circumstances surrounding the Jews at this time in history are noteworthy…they are under Roman oppression, with very little national pride, and their only hope is the messiah who will bring them the much needed victory over Roman rule; restoring their national pride and sovereignty. They have been waiting for this moment eagerly, hearing prophecies and promises regarding the Messiah for decades and decades.Jesus and the Athletes

It is now easy to see how the emotions awakened in Jesus’ contemporaries regarding his arrival in Jerusalem would resemble those emotions experienced by people watching their country’s delegation arrive at the Olympic stadium; or more specifically, what I felt when I was 12 years old watching the El Salvador delegation walk in Barcelona; a mixture of pride, hope and expectation. On such rare occasions national pride and the anticipation of victory burst inside one’s heart and are expressed in shouts of joy and cheers for the object of one’s hope. For the Jews in Jerusalem during Jesus’ time, Palm Sunday was one of those occasions.

The shouts resounded, “Hosanna!”…but what does this mean? Hosanna is a very special expression, it means “save us” and “praise the Lord who is faithful!”…it is both a cry for help and a shout for praise, and encompasses the realization of a need and the recognition of God’s power on behalf of a man. People recognized Jesus as their hope for victory and restoration…like an athlete can bring victory and honor to a country; Jesus was viewed as the one who could bring victory to Israel and restore the nation’s sovereignty.

There is no aspect of an Olympic event which can be equated to the oppression experienced by the people of Israel …however there are many other aspects of human experience which allow us to taste and know what oppression feels like… and the good news is that there is hope in Jesus.

Conclusion: The difference between Beijing and Jerusalem

“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!Shout Daughter of Jerusalem!See your king comes to youRighteous and having salvationGentle and riding on a donkey,On a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Zechariah 9:9

There is one big difference between Beijing 2008 and Jerusalem in the time when Christ walked on earth…the victory won by athletes in the Olympics in Beijing was significant, but temporary… Jesus’s victory on the cross is the most important victory ever won and it has eternal implications for every person who chooses to believe in Christ as his or her savior.

As we enter Easter we celebrate that victory.

What Jesus did on the cross was indeed to bring victory to Israel, and to us…however, his methods were not understood by many, not even his disciples. The bible narrates that it was only in retrospect “only after Jesus was glorified” that the disciples understood how Jesus was fulfilling God’s promises. Jesus himself said to Peter; “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” (John 13:7)

There may be “things of God” that we (or the people around us) do not understand, or promises which we have yet to see fulfilled… the good news is we can still rejoice, Jesus brought salvation, victory and restoration to us and we will understand his purposes at some point if not now, then later. In the mean time, we can rejoice. Rejoice because Jesus loves us, rejoice because he brought us salvation and we can experience that love and salvation today. Jesus is our champion, we can celebrate and praise HOSANNA.

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